Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-11-12
THE RET0RT EMPHATIC.
SEEMS TOE SOME FRICTION IN THE
INTERIOR OFFICE.

Secretary Lamar Writes Commissioner
Sparks Letter That 1t Is Not TO he
Called Ambiguous for Moment-No
Room Fe, 10th in the Office, and the
President Requested to Choose.
WASHINGTON CITY, Nov l2-Secretary
Lamar, late Friday afternoon, sent long
letter 10 Commissioner Spark, OF the general
land office, replying very sharply to COM
munication Of the commissioner relative &c
the ad iustmaut of the Chicago, St Paul &
Minneapolis, and Omaha railroad land grant,
and informing the commissioner in conclu-
sion that either lie or the secretary must
forthwith retire from the department.
Secretary Lamar opens his letter by say
ings:
SiH | have just received communication
bearing this date changed by erasure and inter
polation from previous date addressed to me
10y ynu. and will try u answer il at once as the
matter to which il relates has already been I'M
necessarily deleyed too long. Fortunately will
be able TO do this more conveniently because ev-
cry point submitted has been the subject of re-
consideration having been presented through
the columns Of the press, whose enterprise put
them in possession of these points before was
appraised that the decision referred to in your let
ter had incurred your disapproval and met
with your disileasure. ! have neither the dispo
stion TO enter upon polemic discussion with
subordinate, nor to engage with him at his insist
ance in gladiatorial combat, especially 50 in
| matter in which he has received my carefully ma
tnred Instructions matter of pressing hnpor
tance in the puhc administration Of my pubic
duties In 10 other way can the functions OF a
| great public department b. successfully executed
| than for the chief To command and the subord-
| matt to obey.
Secretary Lamar then states the legal
| questions involved in the controversy, de-
clares Mr.. Sparks communication an extraor-
/ binary one briefly defends his own position
| and emphaticaly asserts the correctness of
his views, insisting that the matter called to
his attention by Mr. Sparks is entirely irrele-
| want He then proceeds:
However we may differ in our construction Of
| the statutes. or If decided cases and public du-
ties, an constrained to say TO you that there Is
| obviously one point upon which in ac-
cord. Upon this point you have succeeded in the
| communicated before me in riveting on my
| mind a profound conviction. The practical effect
| of your present course is that you can not exc
cute my orders and follow my instructions and
cooperate in my administration without snrren.
dering opinions which should be conscientiously
| entertained it'll reference TO vitality important
interests | am as sincere as you can be in the
profound conviction that my instructions TO you
are in exact accordance with the law of con
greSs in line with the decisions of the courts anC
in support OF the supremacy of law and its invio
liability Ii IS impossible for me- in CONFIRMATION
of my own opinions arrived at after long anC
anxious study, to surrender them to you.
| Under these circumstances IL is due to the or
derby and decurous attention of the government
10 important public interests, and the common
cause confidei IN part To our hands by the prt.si
| dent. and u th. personal regard that shoulc
| both entertain for him. that he shall he allowed
TO choose secretary of the interior who will con
form his administration 10 your opinions or Il
appoint commissioner Of public lands who vii
administer his bureau in harmony of spirit ant
concert of action with the chief Of the depart
meut and without putting him 10 the Necessity o
more decisive action on his part.
This alternative shall submit 10 the pr-siden
at the same time that tins paper will be hande,
to you
Secretary Lamar addressed letter t.
President Cleveland Friday evening, inclos
ing a copy of his letter to the commissioner
lie asks the president to decide which of tn
two officials shall leave the department
Commissioner Sparks, who has been confne,
to his room for day or two, quite i'll, de
oiined 10 talk about the matter.